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Taking a serious note of the way the RM has been handling the matter with regard to OROP, our Association in its Governing Council Meeting passed a Resolution on 21 Aug for making an appeal to the Hon'ble PM to please issue the Notification for implementation of OROP by 31 Dec, failing which we shall be forced to make more sacrifices.

The Resolution has since been sent. To make sure that our letter reaches the PM we decided to approach the Defence Standing Committee Members. We sent our request to them on 21 Oct. Copy of our letter to the Chairman of the Standing Committee, Maj Gen BC Khanduri is given below. This letter with appropriate changes has been sent to all the members of the Committee. Attached to this letter is a copy of the Resolution to the PM together with the forwarding letter. All these are given below.

The next day on 22 Oct the RM let off another bombshell when he said that he is thinking of referring this matter to a Tribunal. Creating a grim and desperate situation for us all. Unless we put our heads together and work out a joint response we are in for disappointment.

We are having our General Body Meeting at 11 00 hrs on 21 Nov at Community Centre , Netaji Nagar, New Delhi. You are all invited to come and participate in the discussion to take a united stand on this serious matter.

Look forward to not only hearing from you but also your participation.

Warm regards

Sincerely

Lt Col Inderjit Singh

Chairman

Mob : 09811007629

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LETTER TO MAJ GEN KHANDURI CHAIRMAN DEFENCE COMMITTEE

21 Oct 2014

Dear General

Even if it is too late, I write to congratulate you for winning a glorious battle at the hustings. It is a great achievement by any standards, but for a Veteran doing it, it is even more so.

Felicitations

The next thing you deserve our congratulations is for getting nominated as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Parliament on Defence. I must tell you that 33 years that I have been working for the veterans cause, making numerous presentations to your Committee, I have never seen so many illustrious Veterans together on the same Committee, if that was not enough to cheer your heart up, a Veteran as Chairman of the Committee makes the day for Celebrations for " ACHHE DIN " coming at last.

So Near and Yet So Far

Do we presume, it is going to turn out to be a great opportunity to get our basics right or is it going to turn out to be another case of being so near and yet so far? Signs are ominous with the bureaucrats gradually taking the better of leadership slowly but surely, unless we are lucky to get your support and backing.

OROP - Authors

The first litmus test that awaits your immediate indulgence is with regards to OROP. We were the authors of OROP, having presented to Indiraji first time ever on 22 Feb 1982. Col Sona Ram will bear me out as he accompanied me for our meeting with Sh Gujral the PM on 23 Aug 1997 when we launched an agitational program which lasted for 107 days at the Red Fort Maidan.

OROP - Present Position

The situation that prevails now is that the MODs interpretation of OROP was rejected by the Chiefs as it was a mere sop and not OROP and the Chiefs Draft Govt Letter was shot down by the MOD due to large expense involved. The Chiefs then made a presentation to the Hon'ble RM, on 12 Jun to break the deadlock but he did not respond. After a month or so Gen VK Singh led a delegation to the RM. The RM was kind to listen to them patiently without responding. When the meeting ended, he as a parting shot told the Veterans to "lower down their expectations." This in other words means that we are not going to get true OROP.

Resolution

Hearing this awful news the members of Association in their Governing Council Meeting on 21 Aug passed the attached Resolution for sending it to the Hon'ble PM. We have since sent this to our respected PM. In this Resolution we have appealed to the PM to kindly fulfil his promise of giving us OROP by 31Dec, failing which we shall presume that he is not satisfied with the sacrifices we have made for the Nation already and he wants more. To fulfil his desire and win him over we shall make some more to satisfy him.

Your Help and Support

Although we have sent this Resolution to the Hon'ble PM on 22 Aug, we do not believe that it would ever be allowed by the vested interests to ever get to him. We seek your help and assistance to bring this matter to his notice. We are sure that once he comes to know that he is being let down he would come down heavily on these elements and fulfil his promise.

What is required is the immediate acceptance of Chiefs Draft Government Letter with some slight modifications. Can the Veterans depend upon you ? We will look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely

Lt Col Inderjit Singh

Chairman

The Hon'ble

Maj Gen BC Khanduri

Chairman

Standing Committee of the Parliament on Defence

Parliament House

New Delhi

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LETTER TO THE HON'BLE PM WITH RESOLUTION

Respected Modi Saheb

1. You were very kind to promise to fulfil the long standing demand of OROP of Veterans on coming to power. Your first action to restate your commitment by the President during the Joint Session of Parliament was very reassuring. Hearing that, the bureaucrats who have successfully stalled its implementation for over 33 years, got into action again.

2. In our Governing Council Meeting held in Delhi on 21 Aug the present position with regard to grant of OROP was explained.

3. It was a matter of deep shock for all present to know that despite your commitment the Bureaucrats are out to deny us our rightful due. They were in agony to know what was going on and then went on to pass the attached RESOLUTION which they wanted me to convey to you so that you could take preventive action to ward off this disastrous situation.

4. Many volunteers got up to make supreme sacrifice if the OROP did not come through even with a leader like you at the helm. We have no doubt that you will not let this happen.

1. We have been struggling for the last 33 years for the grant of ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP) for Veterans. Down the line five Prime Ministers starting with Indiraji had accepted to give it. All their benign gestures to grant the Veterans their rightful dues were however frustrated by the hostile bureaucracy.

Recent Commitments

2. Now the Sixth Prime Minister had announced its acceptance in the Parliament on 17 Feb 2014. The seventh Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi had given his commitment even before he assumed the charge. After assuming charge he reiterated his commitment through Presidential address to the joint session of the Parliament.

Bureaucratic Opposition

3. The bureaucrats are out to frustrate the commitment of Sh Narendra Modi also. They first produced their own version of OROP, which was rejected with the contempt it deserved. When they were given the correct definition, they worked out Rs 9100.00 crore as expenditure to scare the leadership into reneging from their commitment.

Parting Shot

4. A delegation of Veterans met the Hon'ble RM on 16 Jul 2014. After the meeting when they were leaving, as a parting shot, the Hon'ble RM told them that they should lower their expectations. In other words we should not hope to get true version of OROP. A time has come when unless the Hon'ble PM takes appropriate action he was also likely to fail as his illustrious predecessors.

a) to take matters in his own hands and fulfill his promises made at Rewari to grant OROP to the Veterans on coming to power, as the Bureaucrat who have short changed us for the last thirty three years are not going to let it happen so easily;

b) we further submit that we shall be waiting for its implementation until 31 Dec 2014. If it does not come through we shall know that the Hon'ble Prime Minister, our respected leader, is not satisfied with the sacrifices already made by the veterans for the Nation. We shall then make a few more with the hope that he would be won over into fulfilling his promises.

CONCLUSION

6. During recent Elections wherever the Hon'ble PM went, he asked the public whether the previous Govt fulfilled their promises to them? When the public answered NO, he told them to throw the Govt out, which they did with a vengeance unheard of before. We are sure that the dedicated and effective leader that he is, he would not allow the bureaucrats to land him in similar situation.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Mondya, 29 Oct 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should appoint a defence minister — a full-time one — and demonstrate a great deal of administrative acumen and political will if he is serious about his declared intent to strengthen India’snationalsecurity and defence preparedness. Indeed, the absence of a full-time defence minister is merely symptomatic of a larger set of serious structural problems being faced by the country’s higher defence management today, which is in urgent need of innovative reforms and radical restructuring. Mr. Modi’s address to the Combined Commanders Conference in New Delhi on October 17 found no mention of structural reforms in higher defence management whereas his predecessor did mention it from time to time even though the UnitedProgressiveAlliance (UPA) government had sidestepped implementing the crucial reforms.

The disturbing reality today is that in the absence of a full-time defence minister and by not introducing defence reforms, it is the civilian bureaucracy — having generalist IAS officers whose expertise in defence matters is questionable — that has a major say in the country’s defence planning and decision-making. This needs to change.

Committee Recommendations

The demand for reforms in India’s higher defence management is a long-standing one and has grown in strength ever since the Kargil Review Committee (KRC) recommended a number of reforms. In 2000, the thenNationalDemocratic Alliance (NDA) government appointed a Group of Ministers (GoM), with four task forces on intelligence reforms, internal security, border management, and higher defence management, to review the country’s defence preparedness in the light of the KRC’s recommendations. Many of the recommendations made by the GoM were only partially implemented. And the most important one, of creating the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was ignored.

As a result, it has been widely perceived over the past decade or so that the country’s defence sector needs further restructuring. In response, the UPA government appointed a task force onnationalsecurity under the chairmanship of Mr. Naresh Chandra in 2011; it submitted its report a year later. Although classified, some of its content has been leaked to the press. Many of its recommendations were not to the liking of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Defence Minister. As a result, the UPA governmentlostan opportunity to introduce crucial reforms. The report was to have been taken up by theCabinetCommittee on Security in February this year — after the government sat on it for no less than one-and-a-half years, but it was too late by then as the UPA government felt that it should not take keynationalsecurity decisions in its final days in office. It’s now the turn of the NDA government to act.(Source- The Hindu)

Monday, October 27, 2014

The NDA government is working to institutionalise lateral entry from academia and the private sector into some senior govern ment positions. This is a long overdue reform with far-reaching potential. Changing the way bureaucracy works and moving from a closed to an open system for recruiting civil servants are prerequisites to enhancing the quality of governance. Suggestions to institutionalise lateral entry have come in the past from the government's own groups of experts but have not been followed up.Hopefully , on this occasion NDA will see this important reform through to its logical end.Lateral entry has always existed in independent India's civil services. Nandan Nilekani, who set up the Aadhaar scheme which can transform India's social welfare system, is an illustrious recent exam ple. The process, however, has been ad hoc in nature. Given the strong link between governance and prosperity and growing complexity in the way societies function, countries such as the UK, US, Australia, Holland and Belgium throw open specific govern ment positions to qualified personnel from all walks. It's the best way to net the right person for the job.
Domain competence and a combination of relevant knowledge and skills are an essential requirement in governance. These attributes are not always present in a cadre of generalists, moreover one that is recruited increasingly through reserved quotas which limit competition. The second administrative reforms commission, which presented an elaborate blueprint a few years ago, envisaged a shift from a career-based approach to a post-based approach in the top tier of government jobs. Civil servants ought to compete with domain experts from outside government for senior positions.
An important dimension to this reform was to enable genuine competition by setting up an independent authority to handle the recruitment process. Without an independent authority, there is a danger that lateral entry which enhances the quality of governance will be thwarted by the entrenched IAS lobby. Indeed this process of recruitment from outside could be used to prise open the stranglehold the IAS lobby has on key appointments, thus enhancing the quality of governance. For sure, a change of this nature will not be easy as there is bound to be resistance from within babudom. NDA, however, should push ahead with this reform as India's interest is greater than the IAS interest.

The 6th CPC in their report, Chapter 2.4. (Page- 138 - 143) have recommended as follows:-

""CONCLUCION
PARA 2.4.9. : Discussions in preceding paragraphs would clearly show that the scheme of Lateral Shift of Defence Personnel in CPOs/various Civilian Organisations is extremely viable, beneficial and no real drawbacks exist in effective implementation of this scheme. This will not only result in substantial financial savings for the Government but will also guarantee a life time employment to Defence Forces Personnel. The Govt will also benefit by getting an abundant supply of trained manpower for induction into various posts in CPOs/Defence Civilian Organisations. The scheme, therefore, should be implemented in its entirety without any delay." (Source - 6th CPC Report- page 143)

But the MOD (Govt of India), while accepting the 6th CPC report, had kept the above item in abeyance (and no action is taken till date), as as per their Resolution No.1(E) of 30.8.2008, (Para 2, page 21), published in the Gazette Part I, Sec-3).

"Para 2. The recommendations of the 6th CPC relating to lateral shift of Defence Personnel to CPOs would be examined separately. (Source- CGDA Website)

Sunday, October 26, 2014

As of now, the man can do no wrong. He is here, he is there, he is everywhere! After 10 years of putting up with a prime minister who was in permanent mute mode, and hardly moved out of the confines of his daftar, perhaps it is a good thing that we now have a guy who is garrulous and voluble, hyperactive and on the go. Critics are saying Narendra Modi is blindly aping American presidents who always made it a point to spend time with their troops over Thanksgiving and X'mas breaks. If that is the case, and our NaMo is indeed doing a `me too', so be it. There he was pumping hands with our soldiers stationed at Siachen, sharing homilies, bonhomie and mithai with lonely men stuck in an icy , hostile post, miles away from their loved ones. It was a gracious gesture, even if the idea was to create extra goodwill, milk the photo ops and generate more votes. That’s what smart politicians do! It is an inseparable part of their job description. As strategies go, this one was superbly timed, as was his visit (and a hefty Rs 750-crore relief package) to Srinagar. Leaders are picked for these very qualities. And even at the risk of sounding cynical, it must be said, a Modi-on-the-move is better than a Modi-sitting-tight.

A while ago, I happened to be sitting next to a fauji wife on a plane. Here was a young, modern woman, bright as a button, well-informed, articulate, outspoken and feisty. She spoke about her life as an Army wife with incredible fervour and pride. The mehendi on her hands told me she had observed Karva Chauth. So had her dashing husband, she informed me! It was that kind of a marriage, she said with a twinkle in her eye. They did everything together — they always had. From the time they’d married 20-odd years ago, after a whirlwind romance. I asked about long separations, anxieties and uncertainties. How did she cope when he was away? As it turns out, he had served in Siachen. And in J&K during the worst skirmishes. Being a Military Intelligence man, she never knew where he had been sent or for how long. By then, they had a young child, and any form of direct communication was out of the question when her husband was on a special mission. She had trained herself to wait… to pray… to never give up hope. Like thousands of young fauji wives who believe the Army is their extended family, no matter what happens.

Late one night, her husband came back from a secret assignment and knocked lightly on the bedroom window so as not to wake up the sleeping infant. He was wounded on his right arm and face.

He had taken a bad hit and could barely move or speak. For the next few weeks, he stayed home to recuperate — even though he was injured, she was just glad for their time together as she nursed him back to health. She talked about another incident when militants in the Valley attacked the home of another Army officer, who returned the fire but was grievously injured. As the militants closed in, two young daughters pleaded with their mother to kill them first, before the militants could get them.

Listening to her deeply stirring stories of valour and faith, I thought about our safe, protected city lives. This gutsy, proud woman’s narrative is just one of many. Today, she said emphatically, she has confidence in the new Prime Minister’s ability to motivate a tired and demoralized Army. For far too long, she insisted, our soldiers were made to heedlessly sacrifice their lives, because of political interference and an appalling level of corruption that had left the country vulnerable and weakened. She was glad Modi was taking a tough, aggressive stand.

She felt reassured and confident that a zero-tolerance position was being established against those using force against India. And then she told me something pretty chilling. “They were told to DUCK bullets and not fire back! Can you imagine any trained, self-respecting soldier ducking enemy bullets?” she said, her eyes were burning with outrage.

Was that the reason her own husband had finally quit the Army…in disgust? She denied it. But it left me wondering….

We treat our armed forces with scant respect. We have consistently ignored the demand for introducing the overdue OROP scheme (One Rank, One Pension). Fauji veterans have waited in vain for its implementation by the newly minted BJP-led government at the Centre, after previous administrations consistently ignored their appeals. It was a black Diwali for them this year. Hapless, frustrated veterans went so far as to return gallantry awards and medals to register their protest.Despite these setbacks, our men in uniform are stoically carrying on. Narendra Modi thanked our brave jawans on behalf of 125 crore Indian citizens, telling them we could sleep well at night only because it was they who were keeping us safe. It is true. It needed to be said.

With reference to the above mentioned subject the undersigned is directed to draw attention to paragraph (c) and (d) of the Office Memorandum of even No dated the 25th August 2014 and to state that in response to the representations received from CGHS beneficiaries in this regard , it has now been‘decided by the competent authority to withdraw the provisions under para (c) and para (d) of the Office Memorandum No 2-2/2014/CGHS HQ/ PPT/CGHS(P) dated the 25th August , 2014 [view] and to restore the status existing prior to the issue of above stated OM dated the 25th August, 2014.

In other words medicines under CGHS can be issued for up to 3 months at a time in chronic diseases on the basis of a valid prescription and for up to 6 months for those beneficiaries who are going abroad, as was the case prior to issue of OM dated 25.8.2014.

Friday, October 24, 2014

PM to jawans: I come to celebrate my first Diwali as PM with you. Happy to be among my own.

PM to jawans: You make it possible for 125 crore Indians to celebrate Diwali happily.

"Your dreams and responsibilities are the responsibility of us all. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with you."

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made a surprise visit to Siachen. Addressing officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces at Siachen Base Camp at a height of over 12,000 feet, he praised their valour and courage, saying that 125 crore Indians could celebrate Diwali today, and go about their lives in comfort, because the jawans stood guard at the borders, prepared to make every sacrifice for the nation. The nation is proud of all three wings of the armed forces, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister said he had come unannounced, and the jawans may be surprised, but one does not need to announce arrival when coming to one`s own (family).

The Prime Minister said the jawans at Siachen worked in one of the remotest places in the world. It is a rare opportunity to be called upon to defend the country in such difficult conditions, he said.

Shri Narendra Modi said that he comes to Siachen as a representative of the family members of the jawans who are busy serving Mother India on the borders.

He said he is privileged that his first Diwali as Prime Minister will be spent partly with the jawans of Siachen, and partly with those affected by the floods in Srinagar.

The Prime Minister said the Indian Armed Forces were unique - because while they spelt trouble for the enemy on the battlefield, they spelt life for all the countrymen affected by disasters or natural calamities. He recalled the immense contribution made by the Armed Forces during the recent floods in Srinagar.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the fact that women too were now contributing to the Indian Armed Forces in a significant way.

Sharing the pain and anguish of those who lose their loved ones in these difficult conditions, the Prime Minister said sometimes a body is found years later, and many still wait. He said one has to witness first-hand, the conditions at Siachen to appreciate the hardship that the jawans go through.

The Prime Minister assured the jawans that wherever they are, and serving or retired, the country stands shoulder to shoulder with them. He said their dreams and responsibilities are the entire country`s responsibility. He said he would do his utmost to ensure a life of dignity for them. The Prime Minister said the promise of One Rank, One Pension had been fulfilled, and preparations were being made for a National War Memorial, that we could all be proud of. The Prime Minister wished the entire country "Happy Diwali" from the icy heights of Siachen, adding that as countrymen light diyas today, they should recall that the warmth of the earthen lamps has been fuelled by the sweat and toil of the jawans of the Indian Armed Forces. Let those jawans inspire the rest of the country to work towards achieving the dreams and aspirations of the common man, he added.

The Prime Minister later handed over a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh for the welfare of the jawans, and personally offered sweets to the jawans. He wrote in the visitors` book, saying that the soldiers in uniform who guarded the nation`s frontiers in such difficult conditions were no less than `rishis` and sages. The Prime Minister was at Siachen Base Camp for over an hour.

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